Improvement in generating gas from hydrocarbon liquids



' M. S. RICHARDSON & E. A. POND.

I GENERATING GAS FROM HYDROOARBON LIQUIDS. No. 69,488.

Patented Oct. 1, 1867.

- to the generating apparatus.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

M. S. RICHARDSON AND E. A. POND, OF RUTLANI), VERMONT.

IMPROVEMENT lN GENERATING GAS FROM HYDROCARBON LIQUIDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 69,483, dated October 1, 1867.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, E. A. POND and M. S. RICHARDSON, of Rutland,in thecountyof Rutland and State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Genera-t ing Gas from Hydrocarbon Fluids; and we hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact desciption of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

Our invention relates to the method of generatin g gas from hydrocarbon fluids by forcing air through a column of such fluid, so that it shall be impregnated with the vapor of the fluid and become a gas fitted for illuminating and other purposes.

In a patent heretofore granted one of the parties to this application, is described and claimed a method whereby the air to be can bureted is discharged into the mass or body of the hydrocarbon fluid in small streams or in a highly-divided state, so as to facilitate its becoming carbureted. Our presentinvention has more particular relation to this method; and its object is to efl'ect such arrangement that,

I no matter whether there be more or less fluid in the generator, the air or gas to be carbureted shall at all times be discharged at a certainv determinate depth below the surface of the fluid, thus obviating the resistance which might oftentimes be oflered to the entrance of the air by a column of fluid of great height, and enablin g us to employ comparatively little power or force to supply the necessary quantity of air To this end we combine with the generator or tank which contains the hydrocarbon fluid a float consisting of a series of concentric compartments open atthe bottom, and each carrying tubes, through which the air is forced along from one compartment to the other. The float is supported by the fluid which closes the bottom of the concentric compartments, and it is prevented from sinking by the air and gas which aecumulatein the upper part of the concentric chamber. The tubes or pipes which lead from one compartment to anothcrare so arra-n god that while their u pper ends open into the upper or airspace of one chamber, their lower ends shall be submerged a short distance below the surface of the fluid in the next succeeding one. Thus the air propelled through the chambers must pass through the fluid in each, so that before it is discharged from the outer or last compartment it will have passed through the fluid some four or live times, while at the same time, as the lower ends of the tubes are but a short distancebelow the level of the fluid, comparatively little resistance is offered by the fluid to the passage of the air.

To enable those skilled in the art to understand and use our invention, we will now proceed to describe the manner in which the same is ormay be carried into efiect by reference to the accompanying drawing, representing, in vertical section, acarburetor and apparatus for supplying air to the same, constructed in accordance with our invention, The latter apparatus will not, however, be here described, as it is the subject of a separate application now before the Patent Office.

The apparatus in which the gas is generated will first be described. It consists of a tank, A, provided with the usual orifices, a b, the one for filling the tank with the hydrocarbon fluid, the other for the escape of the gas which may be generated. In the centeriof the top of the generator a pipe, 0, is inserted, extending down a suitable distance within the tank, and communicating by means of tubing (1 with the air-supplying apparatus B. Upon this pipe slides another, f, a packing, g, being suitably fitted between the two, so as to make an airtight joint between them, preventing the escape of the air or gas which passes down through the pipe 0.

The pipe fis attached to and opens into the float G. This float is composed of a series of concentric chambers, h i k, all except the inner chamber, h, which really forms the continuation of the pipe f, being open at the bottom. Each compartment communicates with the one adjoining by means of tubes 1, of which there may be as many or as few as desired. The upper ends of these tubes open into the upper portion of the chamber to which they are attached, while their lower ends, extendingdownward to near the bottom of the float, open into the exterior chamber next adjoining. The ends vof the tubes of the outer chamber, is, open into the tank A. The position of the float G, with respect to the fluid m, is shown clearly in the drawing. It sinks in the fluid until the latter 2 I sense (which enters thefloat through its open bottom) has about half filled the chamber; but atthis point the air, which by the rise of the fluid in the float has been compressed into the upper part or air-space of the chambers, buoys the float and prevents its sinking farther. The lower ends of the tubes 9 are submerged a short distance in the fluid, while their upper ends are open to receive the air from the blowing apparatus. The distance at which it is desired to discharge the air below the surface of the fluid must of course determine the length of the pipes g and the size of the chambers. After this, however, is once fixed, no matter how great or how small may be the quantity of fluid in the tank, the relative position of the float and tubes to the level of the fluid will be the same. If the level of the fluid is higher than that represented in the drawings, the float will rise in a corresponding degree, the pipe f sliding up on the pipe 0. If, on the contrary, the level be lower, the float will drop so as to adapt itself to the level, and the depth at which the tubes open into the fluid will invariably be the same. v

The operation of this part of the apparatus represented is as follows: The air or gas from the air'pump or blowing mechanism enters through the pipes c and f and central chamber, h, thence it passes out, in a fine stream or in a highly-divided state, through the small tubes g, which may be in such number and of such size as desired. Discharged from the lower ends of the tubes into the mass or body of the hydrocarbon liquid the air bubbles up through the same, becoming naphthalized in its passage, into the upper part of the chamber 'i it is driven .by the current of air or partiallyformed gas that enters the chamber continu ously through the pipes y of the chamber 1; into the next compartment, k, passing again into and through the hydrocarbon fluid before leaving such compartment. In the same manner it passes from K out through the last series of pipes 9, being discharged at the same depth as before into the fluid which surrounds the float, whence it rises thoroughly carbureted to the upper part of the tank A, and is then conducted otf through the pipes b, to be used for illuminatin or other purposes.

It will thus be seen that before the air is allowed to escape as gas it is forced three or four times in a highly-divided state through the mass of fluid at a depth below the surface, which, while admitting of the thorough impregnation of the air, prevents that resistance to its entrance, which arises when there is a superincumbent column of fluid of any considerable height.

The number of the concentric chambers of the float may vary, and both they and the tubes y can be arranged in many ways to accomplish the same result which has just been described. While describing, therefore, what we consider to be the best means for accomplishing the object we have in view, we do not wish to be understood as limitin gourselves to the one specific means or device described.

Having now described our invention and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In the manufacture of gas from hydrocarbon fluids, the method herein indicated of discharging air in a divided state into the body of the carbureting-fluid in such manner that the discharge of the said air may at all timcstake place at the same depth below the surface of the fluid, for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, with the carburetor or tank for containing the hydrocarbon, of a float, provided with concentric compartments under the arrangement described, so that the air in passing from one compartment to another shall be forced in a divided state into and through the body of the carbureting fluid,-as set forth.

3. The float herein described, the same consistin g of a series of open-bottomed concentric chambers, communicating one with the other by means of tubes or pipes, and connected with the air-supplying apparatus, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names ,to this specification before two subscribing witnesses.

M. S. RICHARDSON. E. A. POND. 'Witnesses L. A. Mouse, G. W. Monsn. 

